Both were great fun and reminded me of playing Quasar and Laser Quest years ago in Oxford, Minehead, Bognor Regis and Barry Island.

The last time we played the Laser Station in Birmingham Emily defeated me, Mark Swain, Craig McAllister and Angela McAllister. This time out I was the 'Top Gun' amongst the Minigolfers. At 'The Troc' yesterday I was runner-up.

The players in The Trocadero Laser Tag Briefing Room
Richard & Emily post-battle.The weapons at the Star Command Laser Tag in London have a number of different Ammunition types which add a whole new dimension to the 'sport'.

I've also heard there's a Quasar/Laser Quest in Hemel Hempstead, and remembered there's one in Bedford too. Not too from us here in 'Parts Unknown' (Luton). Plans are also afoot for a re-match from the Star City Contest amongst members of the BMGA Tour when they head to Bristol soon.

On the 19th April 2010 we heard from MMGC team mates Chris Harding and Paul & Owen Johnson that the 18-hole Eternit course had been scrapped, with a new Swedish Felt course set to take its place.

Following the Star City Open minigolf tournament at Adventure Island Mini Golf at Star City in Birmingham on Sunday 23rd January 2011 we headed back to the course for a look at the new 9-hole Swedish Felt B-Run Minigolf Course.

Over the road from the Crazy Golf/Mini Golf course there was also a sign for another Mini Golf course! This I believe is of the Pitch & Putt variety, and I've heard the course isn't too bad to play.

With some time still to spare the Guild of Rock Paper Scissors (GoRPS) arranged an impromptu RPS Battle!

With seven players competing it was Irchester's Marc 'The Roller' Bazeley who triumphed, with an impressive undefeated streak of 4 wins in a row, in the 'best-of-3-throws-winner-stays-on' format event!

Back in November 2010 Richard and Emily competed in the UK Rock Paper Scissors Championships (Ollie and fellow GoRPS member Paul 'The Terminator' Jones were spectators then). The GoRPS was formed that very night too!

On Saturday 22nd January five members of the Midlands Minigolf Club (MMGC) took part in the intra-team Scrap Iron Cup competition played at the 36-hole Adventure Island Mini Golf course at Star City, Birmingham. The tournament used a two-round mixed strokeplay and matchplay format.

The top ranked player after round one was British Ladies Number One Cindy Kukielka, who scored the only under-par round with an excellent 34(-2).

To decide who would join Cindy as the other finalist a play-off was required after Paul Johnson and Richard Gottfried had both tied on 37(+1). A sudden-death play-off followed and was won at the fourth extra-hole by Gottfried. The play off saw Paul and Richard score 1-1, 1-1, 2-2 and 4-1.

In the 18-hole Matchplay Match final-round Gottfried won 3&1 in a very back and forth match against Kukielka to dash hopes of the Scrap Iron Cup making its way to Wales for the first time.

The Scrap Iron Cup Championship will be contested again in Bristol in February.

Rules of the Scrap Iron Cup• Played between members of the Midlands Minigolf Club• Played in either groups of two, or one group, in round one• Groups are drawn at random (often using the 'balls in a hat' technique)• Round one is a strokeplay match played over 9, 11, 12 or 18 holes• The two players with the top scores after round one qualify for the second round/final• Round two is a matchplay match played over 7, 9, 12 or 18 holes• The winner of the matchplay match becomes the Scrap Iron Cup* Champion**

* The Scrap Iron Cup (aka the 'NABBA ENGLAND 95 CLASS TWO WINNER' Trophy) remains the property of Owen and Paul Johnson** The Reigning Scrap Iron Champion retains the cup until the next defence whereupon it is given up until the next Scrap Iron Cup tournament has been completed

Richard was unable to find the form that saw him finish 8th at the BMGA National Open on the Star City course last January and finished mid-table at tied 17th of 34 players, with a total of 108(par), having scored 33, 40 and 35.

Following a forced break from competition due to injury, Emily was in her first full singles BMGA Tour event since the Scottish Open in May last year, and finished in 28th place with a score of 121(+13) after rounds of 42, 40 and 39.

The tournament was played over three 18-hole rounds at the two-course, 36-hole Star City venue, and was won by Oxford’s Michael Smith with a score of 89(-19). Canterbury’s Marc Chapman was runner-up, with Germany’s Martin Stoeckle third.

Richard said “I was nowhere near my best today, and I had to be, with so many players on top form. Last year I hit my first sub-30 round and set a course record here, however my play this time out was a bit too mediocre for my liking. There’s a long season of events ahead and I’m looking forward to visiting some of the new venues like Liverpool and having a crack at some new course records. On the plus side it’s great to see Emily back in BMGA action after having to sit out most of 2010.”

Next up for Richard is a visit to the 36-hole Jungle Rumble course in Bristol for the BMGA Rumble in the Jungle Competition in February. So far a further 16 BMGA Tour events have been confirmed for the 2011 Tour Season.

In the two-round six player event Gottfried recorded scores of 35(-1) and 34(-2) for a total of 69(-3), 53 with his +8 GMGC Handicap. This was enough to secure second place in both the handicapped and unhandicapped result lists. William Donelly won the handicap event, with Nick Sandqvist winning the unhandicapped rounds.

The first round of the tournament was played using the course's 'Hard' settings, while the second round used the 'Easy' obstacles.

Following the event Richard said "I am pleased to have hit two good rounds, and to have recorded a new Swedish Felt personal best with my first competitive round on the course following some hole modifications is great."

Ends

About the GMGC Club Tournaments

Each Thursday night from 7pm the Green Mini Golf Club holds GMGC Club Championship minigolf competitions, played out over two 18-hole rounds.

Monday, January 17, 2011

On the 27th July 2008 we were in Hampshire and headed to Hayling Island where we visited and played the 69th course on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - the 11-hole Pirate-themed Adventure Golf course at the Funland Themepark.